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The LA Dodgers (1-0) and the Chicago Cubs (0-1) wrap up a 2-game set Wednesday in the MLB Tokyo Series at the Tokyo Dome. First pitch is slated for 6:10 a.m. ET (FS1). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Dodgers vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Dodgers lead 1-0; Cubs won 4-2 last season
The Dodgers picked up a 4-1 victory in Tuesday’s opener in Tokyo as -138 favorites with the Under (7.5) cashing. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed just 1 earned run on 3 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts across 5 innings in a 72-pitch effort in his native country. Leadoff hitter DH Shohei Ohtani collected a pair of hits, including a double, and scored twice, while C Will Smith reached base 4 times (RBI single and 3 walks).
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead on C Miguel Amaya’s 2-out, RBI double in the bottom of the second, but the Dodgers scored 3 in the top of the fifth. Los Angeles 2B Tommy Edman tied it with a 1-out, RBI single, followed by Ohtani scoring on a throwing error on a double-play attempt, and Smith’s RBI single.
Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga tossed 4 hitless innings for the Cubs in his native country before being lifted. He walked 4 with 2 K’s and threw 43 of his 69 pitches for strikes. Once the former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) star was removed, the Dodgers produced their 3-run fifth.
The Dodgers final run came on RF Teoscar Hernandez’s 1-out, RBI single, which scored Ohtani in the top of the ninth. New Dodgers closer Tanner Scott retired all 3 batters he faced in the bottom half for the save.
The Cubs, who will be the home team again, had just 3 hits in the loss.
Dodgers vs. Cubs projected starters
RHP Roki Sasaki vs. LHP Justin Steele
The 23-year-old rookie Sasaki (1-0, 0.00 ERA — spring training) will make his MLB debut after pitching 4 seasons in the NPB for Chiba Lotte. He made 1 spring start and 1 relief appearance, posting a 0.86 WHIP in allowing 3 hits and 3 walks with 7 K’s in 7 innings.
- Last season: 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA (111 IP, 29 ER), 1.036 WHIP, 1 complete game, 2.6 BB/9 and 10.5 K/9 in 18 appearances for Chiba Lotte
- NPB career: 30-15 with a 2.02 ERA (414 2/3 IP, 93 ER), 0.883 WHIP, 3 complete games, 2.0 BB/9 and 11.4 K/9 in 69 appearances across 4 seasons
Steele (5-5, 3.07 ERA) made 24 starts in 2024. He had a 1.10 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.0 K/9 across 134 2/3 innings.
- March 2024: Landed on DL with hamstring strain after Opening Day start: No decision, 4 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 4-3 loss in 10 innings at Texas Rangers — didn’t come off DL until early May
- Didn’t face Dodgers in 2024
- Career vs. Dodgers: 2-1, 3.00 ERA (12 IP, 4 ER), 6 H, 2 HR, 4 BB, 13 K, 0.833 WHIP in 2 starts and 1 relief appearance
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Dodgers vs. Cubs odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of MLB odds. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Dodgers -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Cubs +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Dodgers -1.5 (+110) | Cubs +1.5 (-130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Dodgers vs. Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 5, Cubs 2
Moneyline
The DODGERS (-150) are a good bet to secure the 2-game series sweep behind the rookie Sasaki.
The Cubs (+125) have the southpaw Steele taking the hill. He was a little uneven last season, finishing with a .500 record. LA won 98 games in 2024, while finishing 36-17 against left-handed starting pitchers.
Run line/Against the spread
If you’re a little more on the adventurous side and believe LA will win by at least 2 runs, betting Dodgers -1.5 (+110) at plus-money is a decent play. Just don’t wager more than 1½ combined units on the Dodgers ML and their spread.
LA covered the run line at this same +110 price Tuesday in a low-scoring game as both starting pitchers were ahead of the hitters in the opener. Look for more of the same Wednesday.
Over/Under
UNDER 8 (-105) is the lean yet again, but only go with a half-unit play at most.
The Under cashed in Tuesday’s opener as the Cubs were only able to cobble together 3 hits. The Dodgers managers 7 hits, while picking up the 4-1 win. Look for another well-pitched game as long as the rookie Sasaki doesn’t try to do too much in his MLB debut in his native land.
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